Question: In your column you encourage hydration and drinking plenty of fluids. Our teenage son loves drinking soft drinks, but he has gained a lot of weight. How do we balance the counsel we receive on drinking adequate amounts of liquids, especially as we see our son now struggling with his weight? Answer: W hen we encourage the intake of fluids, we’re referring primarily to drinking pure water. As you point out, many people, both young and old, are drinking increasing amounts of soft drinks (also known as sodas or sugar-sweetened beverages [SSBs]). These drinks are laden with refined sugars and are fueling the epidemics of obesity and diabetes throughout the world. Significant consequences result, especially in low- and middle-income countries. As part of a Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, a recent scientific publication analyzed 114 national dietary surveys. These data were representative of more than 60 percent of the world’s population. Regarding ...